self-destruction; ask for trouble; self-criticism
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
to draw fire to burn oneself; to ask for trouble; to bring disaster upon oneself
Originally literal, now chiefly metaphorical. Has two distinct usages: (1) bringing trouble or disaster upon oneself through foolish actions; (2) in political or organizational contexts, voluntarily exposing one's own shortcomings to invite criticism and correction (self-criticism). The variant 惹火烧身 (rě huǒ shāo shēn) is also common.
Nǐ你
zhè这
yàng样
zuò做
jiǎn简
zhí直
shì是
yǐn引
huǒ火
shāo烧
shēn身
，
chí迟
zǎo早
huì会
rě惹
shàng上
dà大
má麻
fan烦
。
By doing this, you're simply asking for trouble; sooner or later you'll run into serious problems.
Tā他
wèi为
le了
zhēng争
qǔ取
zhǔ主
dòng动
，
zài在
huì会
shàng上
yǐn引
huǒ火
shāo烧
shēn身
，
zhǔ主
dòng动
jiǎn检
tǎo讨
le了
zì自
jǐ己
de的
cuò错
wù误
。
In order to seize the initiative, he voluntarily exposed his own faults at the meeting, proactively examining his mistakes.
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Pī批
píng评
bié别
rén人
zhī之
qián前
xiān先
xiǎng想
xiang想
zì自
jǐ己
，
bié别
yǐn引
huǒ火
shāo烧
shēn身
。
Think about yourself before criticizing others; don't bring trouble down on your own head.